Do you use all of them?
There are 5 main types of Prayer in the New Testament
Four of them are found in 1 Timothy 2:1 and one in Ephesians 6:17-20.
The 5 types are as follows.
1 Timothy 2:1 (KJV) 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1. Supplication; Simply means calling on the Lord. It is your heart felt response to what is in your heart and mind.
God heard the cry of the Israelites in Egyptian bondage and sent a deliverer. Also, in New Testament [Romans 10] anyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Supplication (when done with a whole heart) might contribute towards revival, when we are sick of both our own and our church deadness, we must cry out to the Lord.
2. Petitionary Prayers: This is specific prayer requests like the one by the Rev Yongi Cho. He chooses a specific bicycle, American, 10-speed, blue drooping handles. Or what about a new church bus specifically a 20-seater, <3 years old, under 60,000 miles or a new church building or whatever your own church specific needs are.
3. Intercessions; Deeper form of prayer needing stronger commitment. Type of prayer that identifies with the situation or a person`s feelings, for example pain. It takes the burden. Rees Howells had to go and live with a tramp to identify with him. Jesus is our great intercessor. Intercession can be identified when Queen Esther went before the King at the risk of her life.
Daniel identified himself with the sins of the people (Israel) also did Moses. Intercessors stand in gap between man and God asking for judgement to be withheld so that some may be saved.
4. Thanksgiving: Giving thanks gives honour and glory to God in every circumstance. Thanksgiving pleases God, as he sees us focus on him and his provision rather than ourselves. Thanksgiving should be an everyday lifestyle. We can thank God for preventing us going through a trial but sometimes for the grace to go through other trials.
5. Praying /Speaking the Scriptures This can be the rhema word used in prayer warfare (see Matthew 4 below) or you could say the Living Word. The logos word is the written word but the rhema word is the spoken word. Jesus used the rhema word against Satan when he was tempted in the wilderness. The rhema words Jesus spoke against Satan’s temptations are italicized in the passage below.
Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And says unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them.
9 And says unto him, all these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then says Jesus unto him, get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaves him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Three times Jesus said 'it is written' meaning this is what is written in the Hebrew scriptures.
As Jesus spoke the word of God, it was energised by the Holy Spirit and became the rhema or living word striking down the devil's ploy.
Ephesians 6:17 KJV And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
The rhema word is also the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and is effective against the wiles of the devil. Remember to use it when tempted!
Let us seek to use all 5 types of prayer as appropriate, to the glory of God.
Amen
Personal Prayer